reuters.com — Urged on by President Barack Obama, Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives hustled on Thursday to round up support for a sweeping healthcare overhaul headed to a close floor vote on Saturday.

The House drive for healthcare reform, Obama's top domestic priority, was bolstered on Thursday by the backing of the American Medical Association, which represents U.S. doctors, and AARP, the powerful lobbying group for older Americans.

"I urge Congress to listen to the AARP, listen to the AMA, and pass this reform for hundreds of millions of Americans," Obama said in a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room. "We are closer to passing this reform than ever before."

Failure in the Democratic-controlled House would be a huge political blow to Obama, who planned to visit the Capitol on Friday for a pep talk to House Democrats before the vote.

If this passes in 2009 and sits in the senate, like Cap & Trade, 60 to 80 House Democrats will have little chance of election in 2010.If the House waites for Senate action, not likely ever, the 60 to 80 House Democrats will only have to answer for Can n Trade in 2010 and have a better chance of being relected.If the Democrats pass this, 48% will NOT vote for them in 2010. As the provisions of this mess become clear, that will be the best they will do.Thousands will lose their jobs, decificts will jump, taxes will go up, and things will get much worse as the goverment rations health care.

passing this will make government run health care a real nightmare in this country. we will be forfeiting the best health care in the world for an inferior, government rationed , mess of a plan which will penalize the disabled, chronically ill, and elderly population,and awarding the government with socialism.